In a presentation at the 19th Meeting of the European Association of Urology (EAU) Section of Oncological Urology the use of liquid biomarkers in advanced kidney cancer was discussed. The purpose of liquid biomarkers is to look at the features of tumour DNA in blood samples. The presentation concluded that: Tracking tumour mutations through circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) has many applications for the clinical management of cancer Next-generation DNA sequencing can detect tumour-specific mutations in ctDNA in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) Different mutations, called clonal or subclonal ..read more

In a presentation at the 19th Meeting of the European Association of Urology (EAU) Section of Oncological Urology the role of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of kidney cancer was discussed. Artificial intelligence is the capability of a machine to learn in a similar manner to human beings through the use of data to determine an optimal strategy to achieve a desired outcome. Machine learning refers to the ability to learn iteratively without being programmed. Machine learning combines computer science, mathematics, and statistical analysis to generate algorithms which assess assoc ..read more

In a presentation at the 19th Meeting of the European Association of Urology (EAU) Section of Oncological Urology, the role of augmented reality in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy was discussed. Augmented reality was defined as the superimposition of 3-dimensional (3D) virtual models over the real anatomy of patients. This approach, using a specifically constructed platform, provides additional information to the anatomy seen by the surgeon, which allows for a better understanding of the anatomy and the disease. Clinically, the most relevant application of 3D virtual models is to help the s ..read more

The Health and Care Bill is being debated in the House of Lords this month. Cancer Research UK, Breast Cancer Now and Cancer52 have submitted a briefing to the House of Lords Health and Care Bill Committee requesting assurance that there is sufficient NHS workforce to address staff shortages and meet growing demand for cancer diagnosis and treatment. The briefing also includes requests to embed and support cancer research across the NHS and support key measures on the prevention of cancer in relation to smoking and obesity. A coalition of almost 90 organisations, including Kidney Cancer Suppor ..read more

Ongoing results from the phase 3 CheckMate-9ER clinical trial with nivolumab plus cabozantinib have been published in The Lancet Oncology this week. Previous trial results have shown that the nivolumab/cabozantinib combination doubled the average time to when the treatment stopped working and the cancer started growing again (progression-free survival) compared to sunitinib and nearly twice as many previously untreated renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients responded to the combination. In the CheckMate 9ER trial, patient-reported outcomes were an ..read more

Results from the IMmotion151 phase III clinical trial were published in JAMA Oncology this week and showed that a combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab did not improve overall survival time compared with sunitinib in patients with previously untreated, metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The researchers said they “do not have a clear explanation” for these results with atezolizumab and bevacizumab. Prior results from IMmotion151 showed that the combination improved the time to when the medicine stopped working and the cancer started growing again (progression-free survival) compared t ..read more

Dena Battle from KCCure, an American kidney cancer patient organisation, describes the difference between misinformation and disinformation. She tries to dispel the common myths regarding the diagnosis and treatment of kidney cancer and speaks about what is causing the distribution of misinformation among patient communities. A number of factors are involved, such as new data, data driving new treatment practices, lack of consensus where there isn’t enough evidence to support treatment guidelines, shared decision-making with the patient, and statistical bias in the community in which the infor ..read more

A new study from the USA shows that highly focused radiation called stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) to isolated kidney cancer metastases that grow despite treatment with medication can slow progression of the disease. This can save the use of other drugs for treating the kidney cancer down the line. Metastatic kidney cancer is difficult to treat and patients become resistant to each line of therapy. Eventually some patients run out of drugs to try. In some patients, although metastases can be found at multiple sites in their bodies, only a few metastases are growing. The phase 2 clin ..read more

We have just learnt that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the scientific committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), is recommending approval of pembrolizumab for the adjuvant treatment of people with intermediate to high risk renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following nephrectomy. The CHMP positive opinion will now be reviewed by the European Commission (EC), which has the authority to approve medicines for the European Union (EU). The European Commission will review the drug’s potential marketing authorisation, and is expected to make a final decision in the first q ..read more

Researchers from Aberdeen University are involved in a piece of research to help understand what outcomes matter most to patients living with and beyond kidney cancer, and how COVID-19 has impacted on outcomes they find important. They are now ready to interview patients and would like your help to share the following invitation to patients who are willing to take part. We invite you to share the following information within your networks, across your social media platforms and on your website. Thank you for your support for this important piece of work. Kind regards Julia   Would yo ..read more